Female Empowerment Within the Local Coffee Industry  

Women in Vanuatu provide critical labour during the annual coffee harvest season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant downturn in local tourism job opportunities and a substantial reduction of workers in the local coffee industry. Many young men have moved to Australia or New Zealand in search of agricultural work, and as a result there has been a 35 per cent decrease in overall coffee production levels.  

This project will support women who are currently involved in the coffee industry on Tanna Island to better understand problems in the industry and undertake training in coffee harvesting, processing and marketing.   

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: • launch a coffee industry awareness program 

• deliver a detailed plan that will define the problems that currently exist and provide solutions that will reverse downward trends in coffee production, while also enhancing productivity, increasing incomes and empowering women to have greater equality
• gather information on a weekly basis during the harvest to track implementation of the plan \
• deliver a detailed report prior to the next harvest season. 

Rainbow Disability Theatre - Health Issues  

Wan Smolbag Theatre is a grassroots organisation in Vanuatu producing theatre and running youth and community centres. Rainbow Disability Theatre work to promote the ability and challenge perceptions of people with disabilities. Rainbow Disability Theatre group is made up of 20 women and men including people living with physically disabilities and their carers. The performing group is made up entirely of ni-Vanuatu members who perform in Bislama, Vanuatu’s main language.  

In this project, Rainbow Disability Theatre will perform their new play for schools and communities to promote health issues and challenge misconceptions about people living with a disability. In the play, members of the group talk about their own challenges with smoking, alcohol and sugary foods. The play will be performed 30 times to communities and schools in urban and peri-urban areas around Port Vila.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• rehearse the play with Rainbow Disability Theatre group
• perform an in-house showing to Wan Smolbag Theatre staff and youth centre members
• perform the play to school students and communities. 

Medical Administration Training for Women on Espirutu Santo

Churches of Christ Medical Santo (Medical Santo) is a private, not-for-profit medical aid organisation established to provide primary health services to the northern region of Vanuatu.

This project will support two ni-Vanuatu women to effectively, safely and responsibly manage the daily operations of a busy medical clinic.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will employ two women full time for one year in a Medical Santo clinic, during which time they will undertake 300 hours of formal study through on-line learning modules provided by Australian Online Courses and Pacific Open Learning Health Network. They will also undertake 200 hours of formal on-the-job learning with peers, partners and management personnel.

Occupational Health and Safety Development Through Operational Equipment Upgrade and Training

ProMedical Vanuatu supports the ambulance network of Vanuatu to meet international ambulance response standards.

Australian statistics show that paramedic injury rates are seven times higher than national averages, with the most common non-fatal workplace injuries being muscular stress due to lifting and carrying items.

ProMedical currently uses unstandardised second-hand kits, which are heavy and cannot be properly disinfected. This project will upgrade medical kits in three primary response vehicles on Santo and Efate islands in Vanuatu.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• purchase emergency response kits in preparation for upgrade and replacement of current equipment
• design and deliver a two-day session for all operational and supporting staff on manual tasking, safe lifting, carrying, moving and bracing techniques, seating/driving posturing, working safely in vehicles
• deliver practical training to operational/clinical staff on new kit equipment, with a focus on familiarisation, care and cleaning.

Delivering inclusive sign language training in Vanuatu 

The Vanuatu Ministry of Health project will provide opportunities for staff, partner organisations and the community to learn sign language, promoting inclusive workplaces and communities. The use of sign language is limited in Vanuatu, which can lead to the exclusion of people who are deaf or hard of hearing from many areas of life. Sign language is critical to ensuring equitable access across the community. 

With support from the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will produce an instructional video on the use of sign language tailored to the lived experience of people who are deaf and hard of hearing in Vanuatu. It will also design and deliver activities for the 2021 International Day of People with a Disability with the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People. 

Sign language increases opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate, develop social skills, gain an education, participate in cultural and social life, gain access to paid work and participate in political processes. By training Ministry of Health and partner organisation staff to communicate by sign language, Ministry of Health staff will improve their ability to communicate and work with the deaf ni-Vanuatu Disability Inclusion Adviser. 

‍Active inclusion of people who are deaf or hard of hearing in community activities will also reduce stigma and enable them to become valued members of their communities. Advocacy activities such as celebrating the International Day of Sign Languages will help improve awareness of the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people, and the importance of sign language. 

SHE CAN Lead – young women's leadership program 

 The Vanuatu National Youth Council will provide girls and young women with training, mentoring and support, empowering them to take on leadership roles in provincial, municipal and national youth councils. 

The Vanuatu National Youth Council was established in 2009 and is supported by eight provincial and two municipal youth councils. Young people elect their peers to represent them at these councils. Executive members of these councils have been predominantly men with the expectation that women will be quiet during meetings, hindering their ability to secure leadership positions. 

‍With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program, this project will deliver training sessions, study tours and mentoring programs for young women, provided by partner organisations such as Care International, Vanuatu Family Health, Wan Smol Bag and the Department of Women's Affairs. These activities will be focused on improving the leadership, presentation and advocacy skills of young women.

This project aims to ensure that young women can exercise their leadership skills confidently on youth councils and at local government meetings. Young women will be able to adapt quickly to their newly elected roles and be effective advocates for their communities. It also provides a pathway to broader leadership roles in advocacy and politics, with the ultimate aim of increasing the proportion of women in leadership roles on provincial, municipal and national youth councils. 

Strengthening the capacity and safety of COVID-19 risk mitigation activities

The Vanuatu Ministry of Health will deliver essential personal protective equipment, standard uniforms and communication support to medical and monitoring teams based at the Shefa Provincial Health Department. These teams are responsible for executing COVID-19 mitigation and monitoring activities across Vanuatu.

This project is supported by the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. An Australian volunteer is assisting the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to deliver this project.

All COVID-19 mitigation and monitoring activities are conducted by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. Medical and monitoring teams based at the Shefa Provincial Health Department are responsible for on the ground activities associated with monitoring international arrivals and investigating confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases.

‍As frontline workers, these teams are at the highest risk of infection from COVID-19 and providing personal protective equipment will help to reduce the spread of any potential outbreaks from these essential workers. Designated uniforms will also make these teams look more professional, increasing the community’s confidence that effective, nationally coordinated measures are being taken to protect Vanuatu against the threat of COVID-19.

The project will also provide communications support to medical and monitoring teams, allowing them to effectively communicate, record and report information about COVID-19 mitigation and monitoring activities.

Improving access to the Vila Central Hospital for people with a disability 

The Vanuatu Ministry of Health will improve the Vila Central Hospital's capacity for inclusion of people with a disability by addressing issues highlighted in an occupational therapy audit. This project will improve accessibility at the hospital, based on consultation with people living with a disability and advice from an occupational therapist. An Australian volunteer is assisting the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to deliver this project. 

Vila Central Hospital is the major referral centre for Vanuatu. Currently, the hospital cannot service people living with a disability because its facilities are not fit for purpose. Despite the significant need for access, the hospital was not designed to support and include people with a disability. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• create a project design to meet the needs of patients with a disability 
• install building ramps identified in the occupational therapy audit 
• create accessible bathroom and shower areas 
• fit an access ramp to the Vila Central Hospital van. 

An occupational therapist will provide input to ensure the project’s design and implementation meets the needs of people with a disability. 

This project will promote inclusion for people with a disability, allowing access for people in wheelchairs to hospital services. It will allow people with a disability to shower and toilet safely and with dignity in the medical and surgical ward. Ultimately, the project aims to start conversations about building accessible hospital environments, encouraging the inclusion of people with a disability, and ensuring they can access appropriate medical care.  

Improving facilities to support COVID-19 response in Vanuatu 

The Vanuatu Ministry of Health will improve the staff, storage and teaching room in the Vila Central Hospital’s Emergency Department. Staff will be able to prepare and respond to COVID-19 situations more effectively. This project aims to improve patient care and staff morale by providing the facilities for staff to do their work effectively. An Australian volunteer is assisting the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to deliver this project. 

The Vila Central Hospital Emergency Department currently has one large room that is used as a staff room, a change room, a storage room and a teaching area. This space is currently not fit for purpose and has no running water or air conditioning.   

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• build a staff change room 
• purchase shelving and storage boxes to organise equipment and supplies in the storeroom 
• install a kitchen with running water so staff can wash their hands and prepare meals. 

The project will allow staff to organise and monitor supplies of critical items equipment so they are easily accessible in an emergency. It will also allow them to prepare and respond to COVID-19 situations more effectively. 

Staff will have a comfortable place to teach and learn during weekly education sessions, which include training on infection prevention and control sessions to inform their COVID-19 response. They will also have a private change room to ensure they can adhere to infection control principles, especially when working with potential COVID-19 patients.  

With a fit for purpose kitchen area, the staff can prepare nutritious food to keep their energy up during a busy shift. Ultimately, this project will improve the quality of patient care and staff morale, providing the facilities for staff to do their work effectively. 

Maternal health and postpartum haemorrhage training for paramedic students

ProMedical Vanuatu project will provide training to educate paramedic students in maternal health and postpartum haemorrhaging. This project will focus on the delivery of babies outside of hospitals, which is common in Vanuatu. It will also provide education to communities and senior school students on maternal and reproductive health. An Australian volunteer is assisting ProMedical to deliver this project.

Vanuatu has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Many communities have lost their main source of income, as tourists are not allowed to travel. Therefore, residents cannot afford transport or medical care.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will deliver weekly training sessions for paramedic students to learn skills including how to correctly deliver a baby and placenta as well as managing postpartum haemorrhaging in multiple scenarios. It will also provide education to communities and senior school students on maternal and reproductive health. The project will purchase a MamaBirthie Simulator and Adult IV Training Arm.

Smart phones for remote Vanuatu communities

Promedical Vanuatu will supply smart phones to remote communities in Vanuatu, allowing them to communicate using free satellite broadband. Remote communities and medical clinics will be able to access telehealth sessions, health care information and training.‍ An Australian volunteer is assisting ProMedical to deliver this project.

Promedical Vanuatu is the only emergency ambulance service in Vanuatu. It is often tasked to remote locations with minimal patient information provided. Some responses involve long drives to remote communities over roads in poor condition. Many communities travel long distances by boat to meet ambulance services at remote locations.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will significantly improve the quality of health care services and community health information to isolated villages and islands of Vanuatu. It will improve Promedical’s access to information about the location and condition of their patients during an emergency. Remote clinics and communities will be able to access first aid, health care information and telehealth sessions using smart phones connected by satellite broadband. The project will also provide information about COVID-19 vaccination and prevention programs, assisting health services to educate and encourage communities to support the vaccination rollout.‍

‍Using the smart phones, remote communities will be able to maintain communications during natural disasters so that appropriate aid and assistance can be provided to affected communities. Partner organisations will be able to tailor their aid and assistance, based on up to date information from each affected community. This will improve the quality of health care and assistance provided to isolated communities.

COVID-19 holistic training and handwashing stations

The Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) Vanuatu Committee will deliver training on COVID-19 risks, handwashing, gender impacts, disability inclusion and food security, to community markets, schools and corrective services facilities.

Building the capacity of Vila Central Hospital Emergency Department with a desktop computer

The Emergency Department at Vila Central Hospital plays an integral role in patient care, and the use of a desktop computer will improve data collection, be used by staff for webinars with counterparts in other Pacific countries and health organisations, and be used for staff training.

Hygiene and sanitation training for Provincial Health Extension Workers

The Ministry of Health will support their staff and those of other authorities with the latest messaging and guidelines on COVID-19 response through two workshops, and the production of promotional materials.

National and provincial cooperation on Risk, Communication and Community Engagement for COVID-19 (RCCE) review

This project will improve the coordination of Risk, Communication and Community Engagement on COVID-19 in the Health Promotion Unit, Vanuatu Ministry of Health. The project will analyse current processes for COVID-19 awareness and prevention, and improve collaboration among key stakeholders in crisis response and long-term health priorities.

Building confidence, resilience and improving health outcomes for Ni-Vanuatu people living with disabilities to combat the impacts of COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold

This project will deliver services to Ni-Vanuatu people living with disabilities in the local community, including first aid training by ProMedical Vanuatu paramedics for community members and health education on COVID-19 for carers and family. This will improve the capacity of the local community to respond to the global pandemic.

Rainbow Disability Theatre COVID-19 awareness performances

Wan Smolbag’s Rainbow Disability Theatre will visit schools and communities, sharing messages about COVID-19 and good hygiene practices through a fun and engaging performance.